Differences in smoking cessation strategies between men and women

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Abstract

This descriptive research was designed to identify differences in smoking cessation strategies between men and women in a cross-sectional population sample of current smokers in the upper Midwest. Data on the number of previous quit attempts, the success and persistence in quit attempts, future intensions to change smoking habits, and strategies planned for cessation were obtained from 1669 smokers. Log-linear analyses controlling for age and the number of cigarettes smoked revealed significant gender differences. Men and women appear to approach smoking cessation differently. Women were more tentative and less committed to quitting smoking entirely. Women were also less successful in sustaining smoking cessation attempts for longer than one week. Efficacy expectations and differential attributions for failure were suggested as possible explanations for the results, however further research will be necessary to confirm or disconfirm these hypotheses.

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    Supported in part by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Grants R01 HL 25523-01, and T32 HL 07328.

    2

    Now at the American Red Cross National Headquarters, Research, Development, and Marketing Department, 18th and E Streets NW, Washington, DC 20006.

    3

    Now at the Institute of Social Psychology, University of Bergen, Oisteinsgate 3, 5 Bergen, Norway.

    4

    Now at the National Cancer Institute, Smoking, Cancer, and Tobacco Program, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Executive Plaza N., Rm. 320, 9000 Rockville Pike, Room 723, Bethesda, MD 20892.

    5

    Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 611 Beacon Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

    6

    Now at the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, 300 South Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

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